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January 2025
NEEDHAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS
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The NCC staff, board members, and community supporters kicked off 2025 with purpose and teamwork by visiting the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) on January 2nd.
During our visit, we contributed to making 9,753 meals possible and helped sort and organize an impressive 11,704 pounds of food.
The GBFB is an extraordinary organization and a valued partner in our mission. Each month, we receive 7,000 pounds of food through the Food Bank, which we purchase at a significantly reduced cost. This vital support enables us to better serve our Needham neighbors in need.
Reflecting on our partnership with GBFB, I’m reminded of how indispensable they have been to the Council. During the pandemic, their unwavering support allowed us to keep serving our community when it was needed most. Today, they continue to empower us by providing access to essential food items for our pantry at an impactful discount. This would not be possible without the generosity of our community, and we are profoundly grateful for your continued support. Whether you donate financially, volunteer your time, shop at the Council Thrift, or organize a food drive or private fundraiser, we appreciate you. It truly takes a neighborhood to make a difference.
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Thanks to partnerships with vendors like GBFB, we can stretch your contributions even further. While food drives help us provide specialized items like boxed cereal, kids' snacks, and olive oil, financial gifts often have an even greater impact. A $28 donation, for example, allows us to purchase enough food to feed a family for two weeks.
During our recent visit to the GBFB, we saw firsthand how much of a difference these contributions make. Support the food pantry today.
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2025!
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We are Hiring Office Support
The Needham Community Council is currently hiring a 2-day a week (Thursday & Friday) office support staff position.
Please see the job description and send resume & letter of interest to srobinson@needhamcouncil.org by Monday, January 20th.
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Christmas Tree Pick-Up Benefiting the Council | |
If you need help getting your Christmas tree to the dump this year, Mike Fanning is back. In his true spirit of community this Holiday season, Mike is offering to pick up your Christmas trees and take them to the RTS Station for a donation to the Needham Community Council food pantry! Reach out to him directly at (617) 678-8600!
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Community Partnerships
Our Needham neighbors have been generous and the Council felt fully supported by the Needham community this holiday season, with so many groups helping in a multitude of ways.
Thanks go out to the Masons and Needham Garden Club for providing our food pantry customers with Christmas trees and holiday wreaths and to the North Hill community for collecting financial donations and gift cards for our Holiday Hearts Program. St. Joseph’s Church and the Needham Exchange Club collected and donated many, many gift cards, and the 2nd graders at Broadmeadow created and sold keychains, with all profits being donated to the Council.
And volunteers from Temple Beth Shalom prepared and delivered 170 Christmas dinners to many Needham residents. We are grateful to be part of such a generous and caring community, one whose efforts significantly contributed to making the holidays brighter for many of our Needham neighbors.
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English Language Learning | | |
With Gratitude
The ELL program is starting 2025 with a team of 83 tutors volunteering their time to work with ELLs in the Needham community. It is an impressive group of individuals who are enthusiastic about helping teach English! A special thanks this month to our tutors who have taken on multiple learners, husband & wife ELLs or low beginners who cannot attend the evening class.
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Class Updates
ELL conversation groups are starting up again in January and groups accepting new learners are listed on our website. New groups include a Wednesday, 7:30 pm online conversation group led by Patricia Cooper and a Friday, 10:30 am advanced beginner/intermediate conversation group led by Beverly Schwartz.
A weekly no English/low beginner class is planned for Mondays, 2:30-4:00pm at Linden & Chambers starting Jan 13th. An intensive beginner class will be held on Tuesdays and & Thursdays at the Council from 6:30-8:00 pm starting Feb 4th. Both classes will be taught by Kimberly McCollum. To register for groups and classes, email Sheila Roberts at sroberts@needhamcouncil.org.
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Screenagers
Do you have a 4th - 8th grader and want to help them navigate growing up in the digital age? Come to the free screening of Screenagers Thursday, January 16th at Powers Hall, 2nd floor of Needham Town Hall. Free pizza will be served at 5:30, movie premieres at 6:00 and discussion at 7:15. This event is brought to the Needham community by Needham Youth & Family Services, St. Joseph School, and the Council’s Mindful Community program. This is not a drop-off event. Please use the link to register for Screenagers. Register Here.
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Save the Dates - Next Mindful Community Events
March 5, 2025 - Emotions 101: Helping your child name and navigate emotions with Deborah Farmer Kris
April 2, 2025 - Essential Parenting Conversations with Michele Icard
More information will be posted here: Mindful Community - Needham Community Council
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Technical Assistance
Here is the schedule for onsite technical assistance at the Needham Housing Authority sites and the Council on Aging (COA).
If you can’t attend a session at the COA or Needham Housing Authority, please contact Karen Zarrow, Tech & Tutors Program Manager, to schedule a 20-minute one-on-one help session at the Council at 781-444-2415 x2020 or email Karen at kzarrow@needhamcouncil.org.
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Technology Lectures & Support
Teens from the Needham High School Technology Club offer technology lectures and technology support sessions twice a month.
Next Tech Talks:
Apple Pay and Google Maps
Learn about using Apple Pay to pay for items and how to navigate with Google Maps.
Wednesday, January 8th, 3:15pm-4:15pm at the CATH, 300 Hillside Avenue, Room 207.
2024: A Technological Year in Review
A Technological Year in Review - highlighting the important advancements in technology that happened in 2024.
Wednesday, January 22nd, 3:15pm-4:15pm at the CATH, 300 Hillside Avenue, Room 207.
Next Support Sessions:
Saturday, Jan 11th and Jan 25th, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Needham Public Library, Study Room 1.
More information can be found on our website.
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Wicked Week
Wicked good items at wicked low prices!
Are you a good witch or a bad witch…It doesn’t matter witch! Any witch can shop the Council Thrift January 21 – 25 and get 25% off any pink ticket items and green ticket items are $1. But wait, there’s more! Green ticket items are BOGO so if you buy one green ticket item, you get the second green ticket item for free! Savings like these are popular with our customers and they’ll make you feel like you’re Dancing Through Life while Defying Gravity!
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Friendly Donations Reminders
We gratefully accept donations on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during Thrift Store hours. We DO NOT accept donations on Wednesdays & Sundays.
Please don’t leave items outside or on the porch. Why? We do not have volunteers to process the donations, and we do not have room for storage.
The profits made at the Council Thrift help fund all of our valuable programs that support the Needham community. Thank you for your support.
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Hours and Important Dates | | | |
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Martin Luther King Day
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Food Pantry and Offices: In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the pantry will be closed on Monday, January 20th.
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Thrift Store & Donations: In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the pantry will be closed on Saturday, January 18th and Monday, January 20th.
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As we head into winter months, the Council offices and all programs will close during snow events. We follow the Needham Public Schools for all weather closings. | | |
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Council Thrift & Donation Hours
Monday 10 am - 4 pm
Tuesday & Thursday 10 am - 6 pm
Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
Closed Wednesday
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Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4 pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday
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Needham Community Council
570 Hillside Avenue
Needham, MA 02494
781-444-2415
office@needhamcouncil.org
Connect with us
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The Needham Community Council is a private 501(C)3 non-profit organization which supports people in Needham who have under-met health, educational or social needs, and promotes volunteerism, community and a sense of shared responsibility. | | | | |
